Programme Background 12.00 pm REGISTRATION AND LUNCH On 15 September Bavaria will elect its new State 12.45 pm OPENING AND WELCOME Parliament and one week later Germany will vote on a new Bundestag. The outcome of the elections Dr. Gabriele STAUNER will give an insight into the stability of the political Director-General, Federal and European Affairs, INVITATION Bavarian State Chancellery landscape, the attractiveness of traditional catch- all parties and the ability to govern in a federal Christian FORSTNER The Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung has the pleasure of inviting system like Germany. Director, Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung Brussels you to a panel discussion on: In Bavaria, the CSU’s traditional leading role is at 1.00 pm KEY NOTE SPEECHES stake. After State elections in 2008, the CSU had to Elections in Bavaria and Germany: enter into a coalition for the first time after An Analysis decades of one-party governance. The loyalty Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Heinrich OBERREUTER towards catch-all parties is decreasing; the number Political Scientist, former Director of the Academy for Civic Education, Tutzing of swing voters is increasing. The plummeting Elections in Germany: turnout figures are a cause for concern for many Elections in Bavaria and Germany: observers, the system of representative democracy Political Implications Analysis and Implications is facing new challenges. Markus FERBER, MEP Chairman, CSU Group, Despite a large consensus amongst established Boardmember, Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung German parties concerning EU policy, the other European countries are intently watching the 1.30 pm FOLLOWED BY A PANEL DISCUSSION WITH September elections. Would Germany’s EU policy Markus FERBER change with a new Federal Government? Bavarian Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Heinrich OBERREUTER politicians will also have to keep the balance between justified and unobjective EU-criticism. Wednesday, 25 September 2013 James ELLES, MEP Europe’s expectations for a strong and successful 12.00 until 2.30 pm Conservative Party, United Kingdom Germany as driving force for growth and reform in the EU are huge. Jean-Dominique GIULIANI President, Robert-Schuman-Foundation, Paris We would like to invite you to discuss the Bavarian Representation of the Free State of Bavaria and German elections together with policy-makers to the European Union MODERATION and experts. Rue Wiertz 77, 1000 Brussels Matthias KRUPA DIE ZEIT, EU Correspondent ______________________________________________________________________ With kind support of the Representation of the Free State of Bavaria to 2.30 pm END OF CONFERENCE Organisation and contact: the European Union - Coffee and Pastries - Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung, Brussels Christian Forstner tel.: +32-(0)2-230-50-81 Conference languages: German and English e-mail: [email protected] (Simultaneous translation will be provided) www.hss.de .